Two Days Later

Emily had another fitful night of sleeping. She lay there on Lee's bed in Lee's sheets and breathed him in, wondering if he'd be angry that she had kind of taken over his room. She hadn't, really. She was just borrowing it. That couch had been awful last time.

She still hadn't heard from him, and no one else seemed to know where he was either, or if they did, they weren't telling her. She had a suspicion Barney knew but wasn't going to tell her out of respect for Lee, and that was fair, especially since she'd made him keep her secret. She groaned and forced herself to get up. Her wounds were beginning to heal, but they still hurt a lot. She didn't think her emotional wounds would ever heal, though. She was strongly considering therapy. Apparently Maya spoke with Toll's therapist and really benefited from it, so at least she didn't have to worry about that.

Today, Toll was going to meet Serena's daughter. Emily felt nervous. Was this girl going to have severe anger and abandonment issues? Was she going to be a psychopath like her father? Was she going to throw fits and be violent? Emily had no idea. She got ready and collected Maya from the video game she was immersed in and dropped her off at school since Maya had advised she wanted to go back, that she was feeling fine. Emily was surprised but then supposed a normal routine was helpful for her, and it inspired her to figure one out for herself. Then again, her little girl was a sucker for learning and did not like to get behind in her schoolwork, no matter what she experienced. Emily wondered if she would be worried about that.

She found Toll pacing and Cheryl sitting calmly at the kitchen table.

"Just breathe, honey," Cheryl was saying. Toll was huffing and puffing like the big, bad wolf, but that particular breathing style didn't seem to be doing him any good. Emily greeted them both and gave him a hug.

"Don't worry," she assured him. "She's gonna like you."

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

"He's here," Cheryl said, looking out the window. Toll gave a slight moan of panic, and Emily patted his arm before going to greet Church.

"Hey," he said to her. "You look better."

"Thanks." Her attention was on the child who looked exactly like Serena. It suddenly made her heart ache.

"Come on in," Cheryl said from behind Emily. Church obliged with the girl in tow. Emily heard Toll inhale sharply and knew he was thinking the same thing—this girl could be Serena's twin.

"Everyone," Church said, looking at the girl and then at all of them. "This is Serena."

And Toll fainted.

...

He felt the hand smacking at his face and came to quickly. He blinked, seeing Cheryl and Emily both kneeling over him. Cheryl was the one rousing him awake.

"Honey," she said. "You with me?"

"Huh? Yea, sorry," he said, sitting up slowly. He felt like an idiot. "Sorry. It...it's hot in here." He tugged at the collar of his t-shirt for good measure. Serena was looking at him, a very small smile on her lips as though she was amused but trying not to be. Honest to God, it felt like his Serena watching him.

"As I was saying," Church carried on as if a big, burly man hadn't just collapsed to the floor like a dead tree. "This is Serena, but she goes by Rena."

"N-Nice to meet you, Rena," Toll said. "I'm Toll. That's Cheryl and Emily."

"Hi," Rena said softly. "Are you okay?"

"Yea. I just haven't had enough water today," he lied, getting to his feet carefully. Cheryl quickly dusted him off, and he stepped forward to shake Rena's hand. The girl smiled at him, and it melted his heart.

"So, these are your foster parents, who are hoping to adopt you," Church advised her. "Try it out, see what you think. If you're not happy, you tell me, and we figure out something else, okay?"

"Okay," Rena answered with a nod.

"Let me show you your room," Cheryl offered, and Rena nodded again. She appeared as though she was eager but didn't want to show it. When she was gone, Toll looked at Church.

"So?" he asked. "What sort of things did Fred do to her?"

"Nothing," Church answered. "He visited her infrequently. His temper scared her a little, but he did nothing except keep her to himself like the selfish bastard he was."

"I don't understand," Emily said. "Why keep her and hide her from Serena?"

"Power. Control. Maybe he was waiting for her to get older so he could train her to be like him. I dunno," Church finished. "Just be glad she's as sweet as she is. The nanny was nice enough; they were together all the time."

"Was she sad to leave the nanny?" Toll asked. He wondered if Rena would have been better off with her.

"She didn't seem to be, but again, I dunno," Church answered. He handed over the two bags, and Toll accepted them. "Call me if things don't work out."

"Okay."

"Bye, Rena!" Church called.

"Bye!" she called back. Then he was gone. Toll looked at Emily.

"You got this," she said firmly.

"I fainted," he stated. "I f***ing fainted, Emily." She bit back her giggle.

"You were shocked. So was I," she clarified. "It's okay."

"Are you sure you're okay with us doing this?" he asked next.

"I am," Emily answered softly. "Really. I think Serena would be very happy you're doing this for her."

Toll didn't say anything else, and then Rena was back with Cheryl, and he suddenly had no idea what to do or say. He felt like an idiot. In the end, it was Rena that saved the conversation.

"You knew my mom?" she asked, looking at him and Emily. "Can you tell me about her?"

And then suddenly, Toll just knew that everything was going to be okay.

...

"Nothing from Lee?" Tool asked as Barney put out his cigar. He coughed and cleared his throat.

"No."

"Something on your mind?"

Barney wasn't going to say anything, but in the end, he needed to talk it over with someone. He nodded and sighed. "I think I'm gonna retire."

There was a thud as Tool's glass he was holding hit the counter top from the two inch height it had been hovering at.

"What?!"

"Yea," Barney confirmed, nodding. "I think I'm done with dodging bullets."

"This is amazing," Tool said.

"It...it is?" He wasn't sure why Tool's reaction surprised him. Tool had been hinting at it for a while now.

"Yes! I've been waiting for something or someone to make you realize that you could stop trying to kill yourself, and it's finally happened!"

"I see..."

"I'm proud of you, Barns," Tool said to him, leaning over to hug him awkwardly over the counter. He slapped Barney's back hard, making him cough.

"Alright, alright," Barney said, freeing himself. "So you're happy about it, but what about Gunner and Doc? Or Galgo and the others?"

"Pick a new leader and let them have it," Tool replied.

"Yea?"

"Yea. Do it. Right now."

"Settle down." Barney laughed. "I'll have a talk with them soon." The younger team had returned and were planning on hanging out at the bar later. He'd meet up with them all and break the news then. He shook his head as Tool did a little happy dance and made up a tune about Barney no longer being barmy, but he was smiling.

He felt like he'd definitely made the right decision.

Two Days Later

Maya was laughing as she and Rena ran together away from Louis. He was It, and Maya wasn't ready to be tagged just yet. Rena's long hair was flowing behind her as they ran, and Maya couldn't help but think of Serena again. She understood that Rena was Serena's daughter, and it showed. Maya wondered why her mother didn't foster her, but at the same time, she had this irrational fear that her mother would bond with Rena better than her, so she was happy that Toll was fostering her. She liked Rena and was happy to have a friend who wouldn't steal her mother. She felt like a bad kid for thinking it, but after being separated from her mother for so long, she just wanted her all to herself. Her therapist had talked about insecurity, and Maya agreed she struggled with it. She liked her therapist. She got to talk about her bad dreams and fears, not that she couldn't with her mother. She just liked knowing she could leave it at the therapist's office and not carry it around with her.

"Gotcha!" Louis hollered, tagging Rena.

"No!" she exclaimed, giggling, but then immediately turned to try and tag him back. He barely dodged her hand as he ran away, laughing. As Maya ran, feeling free and at peace, she really hoped her father would feel the same way and soon.

She really missed him.

...

"She's settling in okay?" Emily asked, and Toll nodded, sitting across from her at the picnic table. Cheryl and Tia were chatting by the coolers. Caesar, Gunner, Doc, and Barney were hovering around Tool, who was barbecuing. From the look of it, they were trying to tell him he wasn't doing it right, and he was about ready to slap them all with the flipper in his hand. It made Emily think about the barbecues they had at the lake, and it made her heart ache inside from missing Lee. It also felt empty without him since it was his yard and his barbecue.

She liked Tool and had learned he was the one with Caesar that day on the island. He appeared to be the one who anchored Barney when he needed it, which made Emily smile.

"She's doing great," Toll answered. "So sweet and polite. She's a bit shy and uncertain about things, but she's really taken to Cheryl."

"That's good."

"I feel bad," he confessed.

"Why?"

"I just feel like maybe you wanted to look after her."

"Toll," Emily said, resting a hand on his arm. "We've gone over this."

"I know, I know."

"Then let it go."

"Alright."

She turned her attention back onto the kids. As she watched Maya, she couldn't help but catch glimpses of insecurity in her. She didn't say it out loud to Toll, but she had a thought that Maya would worry about her bonding more with Rena if Emily took her into their little family, and Emily figured she'd done enough to her daughter and didn't want to add any more stress to her. She could see how much Maya loved having Rena as a friend, and that was good enough for Emily.

"Come play with us!" Rena said, pulling on Toll's arm now. Maya was tugging his other one, and he acted like he was being forced but actually enjoyed it. He tore off after them, and Emily chuckled as the three kids worked to bring him down like wolves on a moose.

"So," Tia said, joining her now. Cheryl was taking pictures of everyone in the background. "Did you get the job?"

"I did." Emily had applied for an art teacher position at the high school and was accepted. She was going to start in the fall since the school year was nearly finished.

"That's great!"

"It is." Emily smiled. She hoped it would be good. She had worked more with adults than kids, but art was art, and she loved it, so she thought if she shared her passion, then others might be inspired.

"I've tried texting English," Tia said now. "Nothing. Nada."

"It's okay."

"I don't get it. He's being stupid now."

"Put yourself in his shoes," Emily advised. "How long would you need?"

"Hmm, I guess you're right," Tia agreed, resting her chin in her hand. "I mean, I was pretty mad at you myself."

"I'm mad at me too," Emily stated. "I was stupid. I wish I could just go back in time and slap some sense into myself."

"Well, all you can do is carry forward," Tia replied. "It's all over now, and everyone is safe. You can start fresh."

"I don't want to start fresh without him." Emily hated how small her voice sounded in this moment, but it was how she felt. She felt like nothing without him.

"I know, hon," Tia said, patting her hand gently. "I know." Emily almost told her more when:

"Burgers are up!" Caesar called, cupping his hands around his mouth. The kids whooped and hollered, racing to be the first to get one. Toll dragged himself after them, pretending to be worn out. Emily loved seeing her daughter look so happy again. It made her feel bad all over again for leaving, for having her endure the terror of Fred one last time regardless.

But, if she hadn't left, would they even be here right now? Would they be safe and happy? She wouldn't know. And Maya seemed to have recovered for the most part, thankfully, which Emily was grateful for. There were moments where the trauma shone through, but Emily knew they could handle it together.

Gunner slid her a plate with a burger and fixings. She gave him a smile and thanked him before he went to get his own. She wasn't really hungry, but she forced herself to eat. Barney sat down next to her a moment later.

"Here," he said, showing her his phone. She read the messages on it.

Come home, Lee.

Soon.

"Soon? When is soon?" she asked, and he sighed.

"I dunno, but at least he didn't say f*** off," Barney replied. "Just wanted you to know that he's alright at least."

"Where do you think he is?"

"I have a hunch."

"Care to share?"

"If he's not back in a week, I will."

"Barney!"

"I know him. If he's not ready, it won't end well." He gave her a stern look, and she resisted growling in frustration. She had to respect he needed space. It was just killing her not knowing where his head was at or if they were even going to move forward together. What would happen to Maya? Would they live like a divorced couple, sharing her every other weekend and week? She felt a bit sick. She wanted something better than that for Maya.

"I still can't figure out why he left."

"You sure?" Barney asked. She looked at him, and she felt like he knew more than he was letting on or was at least guessing. "You sure he didn't see or overhear something that made him run away?"

"I...I don't think so."

"Hmm."

"How did they take the news?" she asked, changing the subject to try and make her head stop spinning. She gestured to Gunner and Doc.

"Oh, as well as to be expected, but Gunner is thrilled to be the new team leader," Barney answered. "Not sure how wise of a choice that was, to be honest, but figured he deserved a shot. Doc'll put him in his place if he goes nuts."

"That's good. What made you decide to quit?" she asked, curious. Barney took a bite, chewed, and swallowed before answering. He gestured with his chin.

"Her," he said. Emily followed his gaze to Maya, and she felt touched.

"Care to expand on that?"

He smiled. "She needs stability, and she needs to know her family isn't going to just disappear on her at a second's notice. I don't need to run and fight anymore; I have a purpose again...something and someone to care about, so I retired."

"That's really sweet, Barney," Emily said meaningfully, and he smiled again.

"She changed everything, and I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"I know what you mean."

"Congrats on the job, by the way. Tia told me."

"Thank you. I look forward to setting some roots down here," she advised. "I just hope Maya doesn't have to move..."

"She won't."

"You sound so sure."

"I know my boy. She changed everything for him too. So did you." He gave her a meaningful look, and she blushed slightly.

"I hope you're right."

"Come on, come on!" Louis was shouting now, along with Maya and Rena. Toll, Gunner, Caesar, and Doc were engaged in a burger eating contest while Tool laughed and supervised alongside Cheryl and Tia. Barney snorted.

"What?" Emily asked.

"Ah, just made me think of a happy memory."

"I don't know what I'd do without all of you," she said to him, and he looked touched before clearing his throat.

"And I don't know what we'd do without you and Maya," he replied, putting a hand on her shoulder and squeezing before getting up and reloading his plate. He started shouting things at the boys still eating fast and furious. Emily rested her chin in her hand and smiled.

The only thing missing was Lee.

One Week Later

Maya was so happy to be done with school. She loved learning, but she had some other plans this summer. She wanted to go camping and fishing and learn other things outside of academics. She guessed she was growing up, but she also guessed that she was ahead on her book learning and wanted to learn regular life things.

"Mum?" she called, and she found her mother buried under the blankets in her father's bed and crying. "Mum! What's wrong?" She immediately felt scared. Had something happened to her dad? Were they in danger again? Her fight or flight was kicking in real hard. She worked hard to not show how much Fred had affected her, but she didn't want him to control her life or keep her afraid either. He was gone now. He couldn't hurt her or her family anymore.

"No, no," her mother answered, wiping at her face and giving her a teary smile. "I just miss Lee."

"Oh." Maya was beginning to feel frustrated at her father. Why hadn't he come back yet? What was he waiting for? Did he not miss her? Her mother? She didn't get it.

"Come here." Her mother gestured, and Maya climbed into the bed with her and curled up under the blankets next to her. The smell of her father made her almost tear up from missing him.

"I'm going to go look for him," her mother said after a moment, and Maya stiffened. Her mother was going to leave her again?!

"When?"

"Very soon. Barney thinks he knows where he is."

"I wanna come with you..."

"I know, but this is something I need to do alone," her mother answered, smoothing Maya's hair gently with her fingers. "I know it upsets you to have me leave, but I need to do this."

Maya felt like she might have a panic attack. What if her mother didn't come back? What if something happened to her dad and then her mother would get hurt too? She couldn't take it.

"Don't go," she begged.

"Maya, sweetheart, I'm going to get Lee. I promise I'm not disappearing."

"Please just take me with you."

"I can't."

Maya couldn't breathe, and she sat up panting hard. Her mother did as well and rubbed circles on her back gently.

"It's okay, Maya. It's okay."

"Y-You can't l-leave," Maya choked out. She balled a fist and shoved it in her mouth to try and stop the crying. It didn't work.

"I think this is why I should," her mother insisted. "I need to show you that I can leave and come back. I need to help your anxiety of being separated from me."

"Noo..."

"Maya, it's my fault you feel this fear, and I need to help fix it," her mother replied. "You've been away at school and with Louis and Rena without me for hours at a time, and you're alright then, right?"

"Uh huh."

"Then you'll be okay if I'm gone for a few days."

Maya worked on her breathing. She digested her mother's logic. She knew it was unhealthy to be this clingy, but she was scared. Her mother moved so that she was sitting in front of her and holding her face gently with her hands.

"I love you," she said softly. "I'm here, and I'll always come back. I promise."

"Okay."

Her mother smiled, and Maya felt a bit better. They were out of danger now. She had to remember this. She hugged her mother, who held her back tightly. Then there was knocking on the door. Maya looked at her mother, who was looking in the direction of the door.

"Wait here," she said. Maya tried not to feel nervous.

...

Emily found a woman on the doorstep, someone she did not recognize. She pulled the door open and rested her hip against the doorway.

"Yes?" she said.

"Oh, hello," the woman replied. "I, um, was looking for Lee."

"He's not here."

"Miss Lacy?" Maya's voice said behind Emily, startling her.

"Hi!" Lacy smiled wide at Maya, who went to hug her. "How are you?"

"Good. Still playing piano."

"Oh, good. I'm glad to hear that."

Miss Lacy? Emily felt confused. She waited for an explanation.

"I was Maya's piano teacher," Lacy said finally. "I did some private lessons too."

"Oh, that's nice." Emily didn't know what else to say. She felt her stomach clench. Was this the woman Lee had been dating? She felt herself unconsciously draw herself up to her full height.

"Are you his sister...?" Lacy trailed off, and Maya burst out laughing.

"No, silly," she said. "This is my mum."

Emily watched as Lacy heard the words and processed them. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth made a slight "o" as she blinked and stared at Emily.

"You're Emily," she breathed finally.

"Yes..."

"This is amazing!" Lacy exclaimed. "I mean, Lee said you had died, and that was just so tragic, but you're here! I...I...what happened?!"

"Mum faked her death to save me and others," Maya said importantly.

"Okay, how about you go and get dressed," Emily said, gesturing. Maya bounded inside and down to her room. Emily looked at Lacy, who was wearing a stunned expression.

"I'm not sure what to say," she confessed.

"Were you here to see Lee in the romantic sense?" Emily asked, needing to know.

"I...no. We established that wasn't going to work."

"But you tried."

"I guess? He really loved you," Lacy said. "Loves? I imagine so. Right?"

"So why are you here?" Emily pressed. "If it's not about that?"

"Honestly, I was just checking in on him because he wasn't answering me, and the last time I saw him, he was upset about you, and I was worried."

"I see."

"So glad you're back," Lacy said, backing away now. "I'll just be on my way. Tell Lee I'm happy for him."

Emily wasn't sure she wanted to tell Lee anything about this very uncomfortable visit, but she did have some questions for him now, so she might have to. She closed the door and leaned against it. She wondered how far Lee and Lacy had gotten with each other. She knew she had no right to be upset about that.

"Is she gone?" Maya asked. Emily nodded. "Aww, I wanted to show her I could do the full song she taught me."

"Another time," Emily said a bit faintly.

"When are you leaving to find Dad?" Maya inquired now. It appeared she wasn't as upset about it now, and Emily tried not to feel confused at this switch. Emotions were a funny thing, and apparently children bounced back quicker.

"After I talk to Barney."

"Okay."

Maya went off to do her own thing, and Emily called Barney.

"Hey," he said. "I figured you were going to reach out." It had been the week he'd promised after all.

"Who is Lacy?"

"Um, why?"

"She was just here looking for Lee."

"Ah, well she was his fiancée back in 2012 briefly, but they broke up after she cheated on him again."

"Oh."

"He was hanging out with her a bit before we found you, but nothing came out of it."

Emily wasn't sure how to feel about it now.

"So where is he?" she asked, forcing herself to move on from it. "It's been a week."

"Where do you think, Emily?" Barney countered. She felt frustrated.

"I don't know! You said you knew!"

"Think hard," Barney insisted. "You'll figure it out."

"Don't you dare hang up on m—," she ordered, but he did anyway. She glared at her phone and then growled in frustrated. She banged her head against the wall and thought hard. Where would he go? Why did Barney seem so sure she'd figure it out?

Then, she turned her head to look at the photos on the wall, the one of her and Maya specifically.

And she knew.